Thursday, August 19, 2010

No I didn't play pro basketball!

Sometimes the streotypes of life just catch me at some bad moments,I'm 6'5 250 pounds and I have been use to the questions from strangers just about all of my adult life,did you play pro ball of one type or the other.
But this morning the question from a old White lady at the park this morning just brought back all of the strerotypes I rail against daily in my life.
As Valerie and I made our way around the oval park track this lady walks up from behind and says "I know you played basketball" first I was shocked and lost for a response.
I didn't expect the question,look I'm 57 almost 58 years old and what makes people think that I had to be a pro ball player?
Why couldn't the question be I know you must have been a good brain surgeon?
Ok folks I'm not naive about who Iam or where I live or what the history of America is and still is.
But dam,would y'all cut this brother some slack and if you just want to speak to me just say good morning and stop assuming!
                                                                     Bigmac

3 comments:

BigmacInPittsburgh said...

LOL,you are right Lin on this one I'll grin and bear it today.
Thanks for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

I feel you Big Mac. My 17 year old son is also 6'5" although very thin. He does play basketball but many people who don't even know him tell him to eat. That is the first thing they say to him, not how you doing? Not Hello, just "you need to but on weight". Yuck. I wonder if they have had many people make assumptions about their appearance? Oh well. I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I really like your blog and the new look. Well done! Have a good week.

BigmacInPittsburgh said...

Coach:Thanks for sharing your son's experences,I have come to believe that some people don't have the skills to communicate effectively and use size in my case to start a conversation.